The European Commission accused TikTok of violating the Digital Services Act on November 6, 2026, targeting the platform’s recommendation algorithms and addictive design. Officials warned that infinite video feeds create a harmful rabbit hole effect for vulnerable users and minors, exposing them repeatedly to content about mental health struggles and body image.
The regulatory action threatens the company with a fine reaching up to six percent of its total global annual turnover. Officials examined more than 20,000 videos and consulted psychiatric and psychological experts alongside Irish authorities before issuing the preliminary findings as reported by El País. The formal accusation marks the latest enforcement step by Brussels against the Chinese-owned video platform, building on previous warnings issued in February regarding automatic video playback, notifications, and endless scrolling.
Algorithms Foster Endless Loops of Harmful Content
Brussels targets the mechanics of the “For You” feed, which serves a continuous stream of personalized videos based on user engagement. Henna Virkkunen, the executive’s vice-president for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy, noted that the system leads users into a difficult-to-escape spiral whenever they swipe or like content. The executive branch highlighted that the platform fails to evaluate adequately how its recommendation engine leads individuals toward such rabbit holes.
Commission preliminary finds TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act. The platform may lead users into harmful 'rabbit holes' by showing them an endless stream of personalised videos, including those related to mental health struggles & body image.https://t.co/lrRYdWCjuH pic.twitter.com/hDwqZwSgnE
The platform fails to implement proportional, reasonable, and effective mitigation measures to address these risks.
The system tracks viewing time and interaction patterns without distinguishing whether a user engages with safe material or sensitive topics. TikTok shows users a continuous stream of personalized videos, even when these are related to mental health and body image issues
, stated the European Commission in its assessment. When users repeatedly view or like triggers concerning weight loss or body image, the system interprets those actions as positive signs of interest and recommends similar videos with greater frequency.
Repeated exposure to topics such as sadness, isolation, or weight loss can worsen eating disorders, amplify anxiety, and reduce self-esteem according to Infobae. Officials argue that existing controls fail to break the loop.
The algorithm prioritizes total watch time over explicit user preferences, leaving adults and minors vulnerable to sadness, isolation, or negative body image.
JUST IN – The European Commission has preliminarily found TikTok in breach of the Digital Services Act (DSA) for leading users into "rabbit holes." pic.twitter.com/WjVt9KYUgB
TikTok Defends Its Safety Record to Regulators
TikTok rejected the findings through a corporate spokesperson who addressed the press:
The Commission has made a series of fundamentally inaccurate statements that distort our platform’s architecture and our commitment to user safety. We have a strong track record of protecting our community, while providing users with direct and intuitive control over their content experience
Spokesperson, TikTok
The company now has an opportunity to review the official documentation, prepare a written defense, and present arguments to the Commission. If the defense fails to satisfy regulators, the European Union can issue a formal non-compliance decision reported El Correo.
The European Union can levy the maximum financial penalty of six percent of worldwide annual turnover.
Meanwhile, the European digital services board will be consulted on the matter as the investigation proceeds toward a final determination.